The Dartford Council's Development Control Board met on 14 August 2025, and approved a change of use for a property on Water Mill Way to a seven-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO), and a change of use for a property on High Road, Wilmington to a children's residential care home. Councillors also approved the building of four single-storey dwellings on land at Brickfield Farm Close, Longfield.

Planning Applications

The board made decisions on several planning applications, following presentations from planning officers, comments from ward councillors and debate among the members.

75 Water Mill Way, Sutton At Hone

Councillors approved a change of use from a dwelling to a seven-bedroom HMO at 75 Water Mill Way despite concerns raised by ward councillor, Councillor Sandhu, and a letter of objection signed by a number of local councillors.

Councillor Sandhu, a local ward member, addressed the meeting to voice concerns about overdevelopment, parking issues, and the quality of living standards for future residents. He also highlighted objections from 42 out of 75 residents in the street and raised concerns about a potential increase in anti-social behaviour.

Despite these objections, the board voted to grant planning permission, adding a condition that no more than seven people could occupy the property as an HMO, in accordance with policies M1, M2 and M16 of the adopted Dartford Local Plan 2024. Some members noted that without planning permission, the property could still be used as a six-person HMO without any planning controls.

Pittsfield, High Road, Wilmington

The board approved a change of use from a five-bedroom dwelling to a seven-bedroom children's residential care home at Pittsfield, High Road, Wilmington. Councillor Sandhu spoke against the application, citing concerns about increased noise and traffic, strain on local infrastructure, and the potential behaviour of residents. He referenced the council's local plan and its focus on sustainable development, arguing that the increased number of residents and intensification of the use of the site amounts to unstainable overdevelopment.

Other members noted the social benefits of providing a valuable service to protect vulnerable children, highlighting national legislation that places a general duty on local authorities to promote and safeguard the welfare of children in need. They also pointed out that 24-hour care would be provided on-site, helping to prevent disruptive behaviour.

64 Knockhall Road, Greenhithe

The board approved the erection of a single-storey rear extension at 64 Knockhall Road, Greenhithe. Councillor Gale spoke against the application as a local ward member, stating that she believed that the application was intentionally misleading as the floor plans submitted to the Council as part of the planning application did not reflect the plans that she has seen online advertising the sale of the property which she argued had been marketed as a 5 bed property. She raised concerns around the intensity of use of the site such as an increase in noise and demand for parking which would negatively impact residents.

The Development Manager advised Members that they should give no consideration to the comments around the site possibly being used as an HMO in the future as this did not form part of the planning application.

Copplestone, Barn End Lane, Wilmington

The board approved an application for the demolition of existing stores and the erection of a new dwelling with alteration to existing ground levels to rear garden and new vehicle access with associated parking area at Copplestone, Barn End Lane, Wilmington. According to the minutes, members indicated their unanimous support for the officer's recommendation to grant planning permission and so the application was approved without debate.

Land At Brickfield Farm Close, Longfield

The board delegated powers to the Development Manager to grant planning permission for the development of four residential dwellings at Land At Brickfield Farm Close, Longfield. The delegation included the conditions set out in the agenda report, and amendments and additional conditions where necessary to secure the management and maintenance of 'significant' on-site Biodiversity Net Gain¹.

Decisions Under Delegated Powers

The board received a report on decisions taken under delegated powers for the period 4 July 2025 to 28 July 2025.

The Delegated Report 4 Jul 25 to 28 Jul 27 listed a number of planning decisions that had been made by officers under delegated powers. These included:

• Prior approval not required for the erection of a single-storey rear extension at 54 Trebble Road, Swanscombe.
• Application Refused for the erection of a part double and part first floor rear extension at Rowhill Lodge, Rowhill Road, Wilmington - Harmful to character and openness of the Green Belt.
• Application Permitted for change of use of small HMO (Class C4) to a 6 bedroom 9 person HMO at 247 London Road Stone.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey wraparound extension at 72 Hedge Place Road Greenhithe.
• Refusal of TPO for the removal of nine conifer trees within the front garden at 28 Fawkham Avenue Longfield.
• Application Permitted for the installation of an air source heat pump to rear of site at 12 Richmond Lane Dartford.
• Details Refused for scheme for control of odour from cooking food at 58 Spital Street Dartford.
• Details Refused for noise impact assessment and mitigation scheme at 58 Spital Street Dartford.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed loft conversion with dormer windows to rear elevation and 3 no. roof light windows to front elevation at 9 St Albans Road Dartford.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of a single storey side/rear extension at 30 Brent Lane Dartford.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of single-storey side extension and erection of detached garage/outbuilding at Bean House Bean Lane Bean.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a detached garage at 80 Dartford Road Dartford.
• Prior Approval Not Required for the erection of a single storey rear extension at 25 Oakfield Park Road Wilmington.
• Permission Required for proposed erection of a detached garage with bicycle storage at 4 Birchwood Road Wilmington.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of a loft rear dormer at 72 Hedge Place Road Greenhithe.
• Application Refused for the erection of single storey rear extension at 69 Heather Drive Dartford - Harmful overbearing and overshadowing impact on neighbour.
• Prior Approval Not Required for the erection of a single storey rear extension at 228 Dartford Road Dartford.
• variation of condition for the demolition of existing garage and retrospective erection of a detached outbuilding at 8 Chambers Close Stone.
• Approval of Details for Conditions for external materials, EV charging points, boundary enclosures, hard and soft landscaping and storage of bicycles at 40 Chastilian Road Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the conversion of garage into a habitable room at 6 Sara Crescent Greenhithe.
• Prior Approval Required and Refused for the erection of a single storey rear extension at 38 St Vincents Avenue Dartford.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of a single storey rear extension at 84 Berkeley Crescent Dartford.
• Approval of Details for Conditions for a landscaping scheme at 81 Summerhouse Drive Bexley.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of a single storey rear extension, alterations to roof from hipped to gable for erection of a rear dormer with Juliette balcony and roof lights in front roof slope in connection with providing additional rooms in the roof space for proposed HMO at 25 Milestone Road Dartford.
• Approval of Details for Conditions for window details/ventilation, ASHP acoustic information and acoustic fence at 26 - 28 Westgate Road Dartford.
• Approval of Details for Conditions for external materials at West Hill House West Hill Dartford.
• Details Refused for acoustic partition at West Hill House West Hill Dartford.
• Details Refused for ICNIRP certificate at West Hill House West Hill Dartford.
• Application refused, details refused for construction management plan at West Hill House West Hill Dartford.
• Application Refused for the erection of a part single storey/part two storey rear extension at Savigny Darenth Hill Darenth - Harm to character, appearance and inappropriate development in Green Belt.
• Details Refused for drainage at Rear Of 119-133 Milton Street Swanscombe.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey rear extension to the commercial premises, enclosing the rear curtilage and commercial premises to provide restaurant seating area and expanded associated kitchen. Change of use attaching to and re-configuring existing outbuilding to provide enlarged internal area to extend from Take-way to Restaurant & Take-away at 73 Hythe Street Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey rear extension, single storey front extension, internal alterations and existing garage removal at 28 Brackendene Wilmington.
• Application Refused for the erection of a part single storey, part two storey side extension and associated internal alterations at 2 Lincoln Terrace Green Street Green Road Darenth - harmful to residential amenity.
• Application Permitted for the demolition of existing attached garage and erection of a two story side extension, single story rear extension and a front porch at 6 Oakfield Park Road Wilmington.
• Application refused for the erection of a single storey rear extension at 62 Hallford Way Dartford.
• Details Refused for hard and soft landscaping scheme at Rear Of 119-133 Milton Street Swanscombe.
• Approval of non-material amendments for the reduction of width of side extension from 3.8m to 3.6m at 5 Essex Road Longfield.
• Application Refused for the conversion of existing store to a new dwelling at Rear Of 64 Stanhope Road Swanscombe - Cramped form of development and detrimental to residential amenity.
• Application Permitted for the provision of a vehicle crossover onto Broad Lane at 48 Broad Lane Wilmington.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey wraparound extension and front entrance extension at 4 Laburnum Avenue Dartford.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of a single storey rear extension at 18 Sycamore Road Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the replacement of existing windows and doors of flats at Foxglove House Pilgrims Court Dartford.
• Application Permitted for change of use of the ground floor only from the former vehicle hire premises to Use Class E Business and Service together with associated car parking layout and landscaping at 117 Dartford Road Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the conversion of garage into a habitable room at 8 Powell Avenue Darenth.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey rear extension, with associated alterations to the ground floor at 8 King Edward Avenue Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey rear extension at 11 Wayville Road Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the erection of single storey rear extension and two storey side extension at 23 Lodge Avenue Dartford.
• Refusal of Advert for the display of 1 no. static internally illuminated fascia sign, 1 no. static internally illuminated projecting sign and 6 no. static externally illuminated LED snap frames at 121 St Vincents Road Dartford - Harmful To Amenity.
• Permission Required for proposed erection of a single storey side and rear extension at 30 Brent Lane Dartford.
• Application Refused for the erection of 1no. chalet bungalow at Stable Yard Adjacent 1 Stonewood Cottages Sandy Lane Bean - inapproriate development.
• Refusal TPO unjustified removal of tree at Laurean House Pincroft Wood Longfield.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed alterations to the roof, including a hip-to-gable conversion and the provision of a rear dormer with Juliette balcony, and two roof lights to the front roof slope in connection with providing additional rooms in the roof space at 23 Watling Street Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey side/rear extension with demolition of garage at 59 St Johns Road Dartford.
• Planning Permission not Required for proposed erection of a two storey rear extension at 30 Brent Lane Dartford.
• Application Permitted for the erection of a single storey extension to existing garage/store with a car port and vehicular access, gates and alterations to fencing at 41 Valley View Greenhithe.
• Permission Required for proposed erection of a single storey detached outbuilding at 10 Main Road Longfield.
• No Observations for re-consultation for variation of condition 4 of 22/00459/FUL with amendment to change from deep bore soakaways to direct combined sewer connection within Sevenoaks District Council at 57 Top Dartford Road Hextable.
• Prior Approval Required and Approved for change of use of first and second floor, loft space and part ground floor offices from commercial, business and service to create dwellinghouses to provide eight residential flats at 4 - 8 Hythe Street Dartford.
• Prior Approval Not Required for the erection of a single storey rear extension at 41 Morland Avenue Dartford.

Government Consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain

The board received a report outlining the response sent on behalf of Dartford Borough Council to the government consultation on improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain. The council's response generally welcomed some easing of the BNG requirements for smaller developments.